Review #1 - The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley - Ages 12+

Hello. Welcome to my first review - and post - ever. To start, thanks for attempting to read this (what I'm sure to be pathetic) first little post, and I'm sure, even if this post seems a bit dull and unoriginal, I will definitely improve in the reviews to come. Now, on to the review!

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Summary:

Following her father's death, Harry Crewe, an independent young woman, couldn't even imagine the adventure she would find when she is forced to move to Damar, renamed Daria when the country was conquered by her people, where her brother is stationed as a part of the Homelander army. Damar is hot, dry, and sandy, but Harry finds herself loving the dun-colored sky and the harsh desert. Soon she meets Corlath, the yellow-eyed barbarian king of the Hillfolk, the natives of Damar. After this fated meeting, her world is turned upside down as she is kidnapped from her new home and taken into the Hills, by none other than Corlath himself. She finds herself welcomed by the Hillfolk wholeheartedly, and comes to love Damar even more. Though she is baffled by her quick adaptation to the Hill life, she finds herself enjoying her new life as she faces many challenges, and becomes the first damalur-sol, or Lady Hero, since Queen Aerin. 

Though it was written in the 1980s, The Blue Sword quickly lodged itself into my brain, and my heart, as one of my favorite books. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Fantasy and Adventure are the key genres, but there is a bit of Romance as well. McKinley is a master of words in this adventure packed book, as the main character, a strong, young woman named Harry Crewe, isn't exactly whisked away so much as thrown across a saddlebow and taken to the magical Hills of Damar by the barbarian king of the Hills, Corlath. There, the Outlander is welcomed by the Hillfolk and quickly comes to love Damar, as she makes many new friends and overcomes many challenges, finally becoming the first damalur-sol, or Lady Hero, since Queen Aerin. Though the writing may get tedious for people who don't like lots of description, I totally recommend picking up this book and giving it a shot. Now for the people who may read this book just for the Romance know this: the Romance is all at the end, one of my only disappoinments. Also, when it does arrive, the love confessions are so fast and so cheesy it's frustrating for people like me, who are absolute hopeless romantics and want it to drag out longer. The end does satisfy me immensely though, and comes to a quiet yet happy ending I'm sure any reader will applaud.

I recommend The Blue Sword for readers 12+, for some difficult vocabulary.

I hope you enjoyed my review, and if you're sitting at your computer, or on your cellphone or iPod, and just want to shoot yourself with how horrible or boring that was, I'm sorry and hope you do come back again to see me improve. Please leave me comments and suggestions as to things I could do better and I'll be sure to follow your advice! Thanks for taking the time! :)